amber warning there is 3 met office amber warning enforced through there is a met office amber warning enforced through tonight into tomorrow. the very wettest places over the highest ground could see up to 200 millimetres of rain and you can see the wet weather by piling on across the south—west of england, parts of northern england tonight, but a little bit drier towards the south—east and trying out for a time in northern ireland and scotland. mightjust get a bit on the chilly side in scotland but nothing exceptional. for most of us a very mild night and a mild start to tomorrow. but with this frontal system wriggling around that'll bring pulses of heavy rain once again through the day particular across western parts through the south—west of england in two parts of wales where we have the amber warning enforced. northern england, too, the rain going back into northern ireland and scotland. noticed east anglia and the south—east sticking with something drier and potentially brighter. it'll be a windy day for everyone, gusts of 50—60 miles an hour for

exposed coasts in the west with the wind coming from the south dragging milder air our way, 11—16! extraordinary for this point in february. sunday, ourweather extraordinary for this point in february. sunday, our weatherfront february. sunday, our weather front will still february. sunday, our weatherfront will still be around but a much weaker affair sitting across somewhere of england and wales, sunshine and show�*s to the north—west. it stays pretty mild, a little bit cooler but only a little to start the new week but later in the week it gets mild again, 17 possible in the south, some rain towards the north and west. that's all from us, so it's goodbye from me and which are bbc�*s news where you are. hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm chetan pathak

it's a packed programme. coming up, we hearfrom kick it out as crystal palace�*s wilfred zaha becomes the first premier league player to say he'll stop taking a knee before games. scotland's women score ten goals in cyprus to give their new interim head coach a winning start. and looking to win his first grand slam title — russia's daniil medvedev beats stefanos tsitsipas to reach the australian open final. welcome to the programme, thanks forjoining us. it's the anti—racism protest that's become a familiar sight across sport in the uk — players and officials taking a knee

before games get under way. in football, it's been happening since the sport resumed last season, in reaction to the death of george floyd in america. but now, for the first time, a premier league player says he'll no longer be taking a knee. crystal palace�*s wilfried zaha says he believes it's time for black players to "stand tall" instead. adam wild reports... throughout football, taking the knee has become a familiar sight. whilst the message behind it may be clear, questions overjust how effective it is continue to be asked. now, crystal palace�*s wilfried zaha is the first premier league footballer to call for it to stop. he says he'll no longer do it, calling it degrading. he'll no longer do it, calling it degrading-— he'll no longer do it, calling it deuuradin. , , , degrading. growing up, my parents let me know _ degrading. growing up, my parents let me know that _ degrading. growing up, my parents let me know that i _ degrading. growing up, my parents let me know that i should - degrading. growing up, my parents let me know that i should be - degrading. growing up, my parents let me know that i should be proud| let me know that i should be proud to be black no matter what and i just feel like we should just stand tall. it's becoming something that we just do now, tall. it's becoming something that wejust do now, you know? that's not enough for me. i'm not going to take the knee, i'm not going to wear

black lives matter on the back of my, because it feels like it's a target. we are trying to say we are equal but these things are not even working anyway. equal but these things are not even working anyway-— equal but these things are not even working anyway. beyond the premier leauue, working anyway. beyond the premier league. zaha — working anyway. beyond the premier league. zaha is _ working anyway. beyond the premier league, zaha is far _ working anyway. beyond the premier league, zaha is far from _ working anyway. beyond the premier league, zaha is far from the - working anyway. beyond the premier league, zaha is far from the first - league, zaha is far from the first to question this particular form league, zaha is far from the first to question this particularform of protest. earlierthis to question this particularform of protest. earlier this week, brentford announced they would stop saying they no longer believe it's having an impact. they say they believe they can use their time and energies to promote racial equality in other ways. and that is a stand taken by other clubs, like max three —— like qpr. they said... but the debate over this particular form —— like qpr. they said... but the debate over this particularform of protest is certainly not new, nor is it confined to football. in rugby union's beaten calcutta cup match england and scotland players faced

criticism after some did and some like england's courtney laws didn't take the knee. i like england's courtney laws didn't take the knee.— like england's courtney laws didn't take the knee. i don't know because it doesn't represent _ take the knee. i don't know because it doesn't represent to _ take the knee. i don't know because it doesn't represent to me _ take the knee. i don't know because it doesn't represent to me what - take the knee. i don't know because it doesn't represent to me what it i it doesn't represent to me what it might do for some other people. everyone knows my reasoning is for it and i know other people's reasonings if they want to do it or don't want to do it so the main thing is we all respect each other and respect the decision that we've made and that we, you know, we're still together even though we're not doing the same thing. just still together even though we're not doing the same thing.— doing the same thing. just this week, doing the same thing. just this week. the _ doing the same thing. just this week, the football _ doing the same thing. just this week, the football antiracism i week, the football antiracism organisation show racism the red card of a film explaining the continued importance of taking the knee. it is a profoundly complex in and while sport remains united against the problem, binding agreement on the answer seems just as difficult. —— it is a profoundly complex issue. adam wildes, bbc news. in the last few minutes bournemouth have added their name to the list of

clubs that say they won't take the knee. theyjoin queens park rangers. well, in the last hour i've been getting the thoughts of troy townsend, the head of development at kick it out and started by asking him for his thoughts on zaha's comments... i have got to be honest and i will say this it is not where we should be focusing the topic of conversation, you know? if there wasn't, unfortunately, racism underrepresentation in our game then we'll�*s comments would land and no one would be worried about it so i'm not sure the focus should be the players and what have tried to achieve by taking the knee and showing their solidarity and respect for, you know, everybody that has been victimised as part of this game and you know, football hasn't effectively dealt with our problems abound racism and we're still here 2021. what is happening on the social media platforms, i'm not identifying that is football's faults, but could football do more in that process, absolutely. what

will is trying to allude to is that again players feel that not enough is being done, not enough is being communicated to them about what is being done and theyjust want change. there is a bigger picture than players taking the knee, bigger picture than a few choice words and a few choice initiatives and a bigger picture in 2021 that players do not want to be subject to the victimisation basis and that they had for far too long. the professional _ had for far too long. the professional football - had for far too long. the professional football association found overwhelming support by players to continuing taking in the before kick—off. they sent this at the moment players feel this is all they can do. they can speak out on social media, they can take a knee, they want to feel so makes more change but at the moment effectively thatis change but at the moment effectively that is all the candy. your... plays for crystal powers despite effectively this is all they can do. your... plays for crystal palace, wilford sapphire's team—mate. wilford sapphire's team-mate. wolf saha wilford sapphire's team-mate. wolf sana is _ wilford sapphire's team—mate.

wolf saha is not the first person to not take the knee if that is what he is going to be the next time he plays. —— wilf zaha. there are players in the lower leagues to who is showing their solidarity and a slightly different way, some are standing up and showing the respect. it is all the same thing, to be honest with you. it is the player sending a very strong message out back into the environment are back to the watching public.— back into the environment are back to the watching public. players have been takin: to the watching public. players have been taking an _ to the watching public. players have been taking an ace _ to the watching public. players have been taking an ace since _ to the watching public. players have been taking an ace since football. been taking an ace since football returned last season. as the cut—off point, dc, where we see players no longer taking the knee? i point, dc, where we see players no longer taking the knee?— longer taking the knee? i think there will be, _ longer taking the knee? i think there will be, i— longer taking the knee? i think there will be, i think _ longer taking the knee? i think| there will be, i think ultimately there will be, i think ultimately there was no defined either how long there was no defined either how long the players are going to continue to take the knee but i have got to be honest every time i see them do it in a silent stadium i am empowered and that is what the players are trying to achieve, they are trying to achieve, make awareness around racial equality, they are trying to put the focus back on the industry to say you need to do more, and they are trying to make sure that each of the industry to say you need to do

more, and they are trying to make sure that each other know is that there are protected in a member we have got fans in stadiums at the moment that they are being subjected to was online. when fans come back and we got to keep our fingers crossed that they will be back properly for next season, is that exposed the players and open the players up to more opportunities to be victimised? and so, actually, football needs to put more plans in place and just the plans we are talking about with regard to social media and the actions of the changes that the players want to see. tran; that the players want to see. troy townsend talking _ that the players want to see. troy townsend talking to _ that the players want to see. troy townsend talking to me a short while ago. just were more aligned to bring you and that the surprise for me birthday party was not accessible. it is alleged that the player returned to his flat in the and running a tree when it everton to find a group of friends there. parker says the club will investigate the matter.

it is not something that is acceptable, to be honest with you, and have a conversation with tenants. he didn't know a lot about it. that was my understanding of it, it. that was my understanding of it, it was a surprise party, the people that have obviously planned this have put him in a very vulnerable position. —— conversation with terrence. in still, it is something that we will deal with as a football club in—house. next to non—league football where the fall out continues after national league north and south clubs voted to declare the season null and void with no promotions or relegations. the national league meanwhile will complete its campaign despite 7 out of the 23 clubs voting to end the season. but in the tier below, as i say, the majority were clear they could't carry with an absence of grant funding and ongoing uncertainty surrounding the lifting of lockdown restrictions. it hasn't gone down well with all clubs, clearly. gloucester city were top

of national league north. their co—chairman has since tweeted this... i'm joined now by non—league football reporter ollie bayliss who is a fountain of knowledge on all of these matters. we hear from gloucester city there threatening legal action and maidstone united calling it a bitter nightmare and you can understand why. nightmare and you can understand wh . , ., ., , why. yes, there are a slight majority _ why. yes, there are a slight majority of _ why. yes, there are a slight majority of clubs _ why. yes, there are a slight majority of clubs that - why. yes, there are a slight majority of clubs that voted | why. yes, there are a slight i majority of clubs that voted to why. yes, there are a slight - majority of clubs that voted to stop the seeding but 19 clubs in the national league north national league south wanted to continue the season and clubs are looking at legal action in order to challenge that decision. in fact, in the last ten minutes or so, 18 clubs across that level have signed a joint open letter to the national league urging the league to rethink the situation and look at a way of forming may be and look at a way of forming may be a combined league of two mini leagues in order to provide some sort of vehicle for promotion for the clubs that do still want to

continue. ., , the clubs that do still want to continue-— the clubs that do still want to continue. ., , ., ., ,~' the clubs that do still want to continue. . , ., ., ,~ ., continue. some fans are asking, do the have continue. some fans are asking, do they have to _ continue. some fans are asking, do they have to have _ continue. some fans are asking, do they have to have this _ continue. some fans are asking, do they have to have this vote - continue. some fans are asking, do they have to have this vote right. they have to have this vote right now and was only solution? b, lat they have to have this vote right now and was only solution? a lot of clubs across — now and was only solution? a lot of clubs across the _ now and was only solution? a lot of clubs across the national _ now and was only solution? a lot of clubs across the national league i now and was only solution? a lot of. clubs across the national league had effectively downed tools and refused to continue playing once it was known that it would be loans provided to clubs rather than grant so i think from that point of view the league felt they needed to put the league felt they needed to put the situation to a formal resolution and to of the club is the vote to end the season. i think the timing is a little bit unfortunate because many clubs voted before the national league then decided that they would be able to produce a mandatory testing across the leagues and in fact find a way to fund that. we are also in a situation where clubs still don't really know the level of support available to them, whether it be loans or whether, actually, some clubs might have been eligible for grants. unfortunately, they had to have eight before that has been fully known. just match unfortunately they have had to vote before this is fully known.—

before this is fully known. clearly, feelinus before this is fully known. clearly, feelings on — before this is fully known. clearly, feelings on this _ before this is fully known. clearly, feelings on this will _ before this is fully known. clearly, feelings on this will depend - before this is fully known. clearly, feelings on this will depend on - before this is fully known. clearly, | feelings on this will depend on how local is positioned in the respective leagues. you mention the grants and loans. was that the way around this? the moment that got muddied and we weren't talking about grants for these low interest loans that put off a lot of clubs that outcome is inevitable? big like think it inevitably was. the national league began the season for the first three months of glance, with £10 million of money provided by the national lottery but once we got into christmas and new year it became clear that it would be most, mostly known loans in the governance as part of their winter survival fund and put wheels about them going forward and many clubs are simply unwilling to take on debt in order to finish the season. unfortunately, clubs were given a 70s at the start of the campaign that the grant funding would be available as long as fans went back on as it would take before they could start funding themselves in a conventional sense. unfortunately, that situation changed and when it became low and i

think, sadly, it was inevitable. we know that several clubs, seven out of 23 clubs voted in the season the national league. we'll talk about that on radio later. novak djokovic now knows who he'll face in the final of the australian open on sunday. it's going to be this man — daniil medvedev — who beat stefanos tsitsipas in straight sets earlier as he looks to win his first grand slam title. after losing in the 2019 us open final, medvedev�*s aiming to become russia's first male major champion since 2005. austin halewood's here with more... yes, so the line—ups for the men's and women's singles finals at the australian open have been confirmed. daniil medvedev is the man he was going to try and stop novak djokovic to mike from winning a record extending ninth title which is after it medvedev beat stephan sits a

pass. there is only one place to start and it is a semifinal between medvedev and sits a pass. in the end, medvedev quite a comfortable winner. , ,., end, medvedev quite a comfortable winner. , ., , winner. yes, sort of comets was re winner. yes, sort of comets was pretty close _ winner. yes, sort of comets was pretty close nipping _ winner. yes, sort of comets was pretty close nipping talk- winner. yes, sort of comets was pretty close nipping talk in - winner. yes, sort of comets was pretty close nipping talk in that l pretty close nipping talk in that verse says, he had a very good record against him and also technically he was extending the game to perception, perfection, fumbling away against tsitsipas backhand, keeping on him, and just occasionally hitting with authority and it felt like tsitsipas had so much support from the crowd, a lot of leaks in the crowd who were very noisy but medvedev did a greatjob of taking the crowd right out of it until he got on top of everybody, notjust until he got on top of everybody, not just top of until he got on top of everybody, notjust top of his opponent, everybody, but the energy went out tsitsipas were he did turn things around in the first set, it got a little edgy and he got really tight

closing it out. white